Sheoak Falls, Victoria: Car park, walk and picnic area
Inside the Great Otway National Park near Lorne, Sheoak Falls is an easy detour off Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. This Australian waterfall is a 600 metre walk from the car park. Or a slightly longer walk from the Sheoak Picnic Area.
Sheoak Falls is one of several Great Ocean Road waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park around Lorne, Victoria. It is not as well known as Erskine Falls. But it’s well worth a visit as part of a Great Ocean Road holiday.
Sheoak Falls questions – quick answers
How long is the Sheoak Falls walk? From the Sheoak Falls car park, it’s 600 metres. From the Sheoak Picnic Area, it’s 600 metres.
Can you swim at Sheoak Falls? Theoretically, yes. But the pool is small, shallow and fills up with forest debris, so it’s not particularly appealing.
3 great experiences to try in Lorne
- Learn to surf – with a beginner’s surfing lesson at Lorne Beach.
- Swing, clamber and balance through the tree tops – on the Live Wire Park super circuit.
- Travel through the trees at 40km/h – on the Shockwave Zip Coaster.
Getting to the Sheoak Falls car park from Lorne
It’s pretty easy to get from Lorne to Sheoak Falls. The Sheoak Falls car park is a ten minute drive away from Lorne Beach or Teddy’s Lookout. From the car park, it is a 600 metre walk to Sheoak Falls.
Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
- For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
- To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
- For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
- For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
- For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
- For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.
Sheoak Falls walk from Sheoak Picnic Area
Alternatively, you can take the slightly longer walk from the Sheoak Picnic Area, where several walking trails to waterfalls have their trailheads. The walk from the Sheoak Picnic Area is 3.6km one way, and should take around two hours. There’s some delightful forest scenery on the route.
Once at the falls, you’ll see Sheoak Creek plunge dramatically into a pretty pool. It’s not the biggest waterfall in the world – the drop at Sheoak Falls is only about 15 metres – but it’s a very photogenic one.
Other things to do on this section of the Great Ocean Road include drinking at Aireys Pub in Aireys Inlet, tasting Mediterranean food at Ipsos Lorne and taking on the ziplines at Live Wire Park.
7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.
Best places to stay in Lorne
The top Lorne accommodation options are:
- For overall quality: Cumberland Lorne Resort.
- For adults-only apartments with spa baths: Lorne Surf Apartments.
- On a budget: Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park.
- For an affordable, good quality motel: Lorne Anchorage Motel and Villas.
More national parks in Victoria
Barmah National Park | Gunbower National Park | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | Grampians National Park | Kinglake National Park | Little Desert National Park | Organ Pipes National Park | Murray Sunset National Park